Amidst the ongoing war and deepening poverty in the Gaza Strip, children are increasingly being forced to scavenge through garbage to support their families. Young boys like eight-year-old Fadi and nine-year-old Mahir spend their days collecting plastic and scrap metal, sacrificing their health and childhoods for basic necessities. Despite knowing the severe risks of handling hazardous waste, both children describe the grim work as an unavoidable reality to keep their families alive. Health experts warn that these young workers face daily exposure to dangerous skin and respiratory diseases, compounding the severe psychological trauma of the conflict. Ultimately, these children share a single, desperate plea: for the violence to end so they can finally reclaim a life of dignity.
Muhammed Rabah